Radiation tracking for portable fluoroscopy x-ray imaging system

Abstract

A method for fluoroscopy energizes a radiation source to form a scout image on a detector and processes the scout image to determine and report a radiation field position with respect to a predetermined zone of the detector. The radiation source is energized for fluoroscopic imaging of a subject when the reported radiation field position is fully within the predetermined zone.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for fluoroscopy, the method comprising:
 providing a digital radiographic (DR) detector; 
 predefining dimensions of a warning zone on the detector by using an operator interface having selectable warning zone dimensions; 
 energizing a radiation source aimed at the DR detector; 
 determining a position of a radiation field with respect to the predefined warning zone on the detector, the radiation field generated by the energized radiation source; and 
 providing a warning when the radiation field is determined to be within the predefined warning zone. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising aiming the radiation source at a predetermined radiation field on the detector. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising illuminating the predetermined radiation field using a collimator light. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising changing an appearance of an illumination for illuminating the predetermined radiation field when determining the radiation field to be within the warning zone. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising predefining a color of the collimator light by using an operator interface having selectable collimator light colors and changing a color of the collimator light to the predefined color for illuminating the predetermined radiation field when determining the radiation field to be within the warning zone. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising predefining dimensions of a terminations zone on the DR detector by using an operator interface having selectable termination zone dimensions and determining the position of the radiation field with respect to the predefined termination zone on the detector and preventing energizing the radiation source when the radiation field is determined to be within the termination zone. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising energizing the radiation source in response to entry of an operator override instruction. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising illuminating the position of the radiation field with respect to a subject to be fluoroscopically imaged. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of predefining comprises selecting numerical x and y coordinates of the warning zone. 
     
     
       10. A method for fluoroscopy, the method comprising:
 predefining dimensions of a warning zone on a digital radiographic detector by using an operator interface having selectable warning zone dimensions; 
 energizing a radiation source aimed at the digital radiographic detector; 
 detecting a position of a radiation field with respect to the predefined warning zone on the detector; and 
 providing a warning when the radiation field is detected to be within the predefined warning zone. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising aiming the radiation source at a predetermined radiation field on the detector. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising illuminating the predetermined radiation field using a collimator light. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising changing an appearance of an illumination for illuminating the predetermined radiation field when detecting the radiation field to be within the warning zone. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising predefining a color of the collimator light by using an operator interface having selectable collimator light colors and changing a color of the collimator light to the predefined color for illuminating the predetermined radiation field when detecting the radiation field to be within the warning zone. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising predefining dimensions of a terminations zone on the detector by using an operator interface having selectable termination zone dimensions and detecting the position of the radiation field with respect to the predefined termination zone on the detector and preventing energizing the radiation source when the radiation field is detected to be within the termination zone. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising energizing the radiation source in response to entry of an operator override instruction. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising illuminating the position of the radiation field with respect to a subject to be fluoroscopically imaged. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of predefining comprises selecting numerical x and y coordinates of the warning zone.